At the end of the day, there is no king, but as construed by the Supreme Court, the US Constitution has tolerated some king-like powers inherent in the office of the president. Few Americans realize that many of these powers—including those surrounding foreign affairs—do not derive from an unambiguous reading of the plain language of the Constitution. It’s of critical importance that Congress, and ultimately the voters, keep a close eye on the escalation of presidential powers under both Republican and Democratic presidents. Once in the toolbox, they are there to stay.
